>> Hello and thanks for joining us Chicago tonight.

I'm John and this friend is Freeman is on assignment.

Here's what we're looking at.

Navigating an unpredictable economy amid a conflict in the Middle East.

>> of to >> Want to make and the movie centers brings the blues to the Oscars this weekend.

We talk with some members of the Chicago Bulls community about the future of the music genre on the First off tonight, authorities say the suspect in a shooting at Temple, Israel and West Bloomfield, Michigan is dead.

It all unfolded when a vehicle rammed into that synagogue complex in the suburb outside Detroit before the driver and allegedly began exchanging gunfire with security.

The complex also includes an early childhood center and the school in the school.

But officials say no children or staff were injured.

The FBI says federal agents are assisting the investigation and Michigan State police say they're increasing patrols at other places of worship in the area.

And domestic violence.

Homicides increased by 15% last year.

That's according to the Chicago Police Department news conference today.

Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill.

Burke announced the launch of a new domestic violence homicide unit last year alone.

At least 63 Chicagoans, mostly women lost their lives in domestic violence incidents.

Burke says the bureau will focus on supporting survivors and connecting them with critical services.

This new unit will have dedicated victim, witness person.

>> Who approach this work with the Tama important perspective that gives victims and families a shoulder to lean on during this incredibly difficult moment.

>> And Governor Pritzker visited Kankakee County today and met with local officials and emergency responders.

The damage in a Roma park, which is a suburb of Kankakee, was extensive with the stretch of homes completely destroyed in Tuesday's storm.

At least one person is hospitalized with injuries caused by the severe weather.

The governor says he does not anticipate any problem getting federal disaster relief.

>> Politics shouldn't play any role in addressing emergencies and crises that exist across the country are in the state of Illinois.

I have some confidence here because I think it's pretty obvious that the damage here is devastating.

And I think that that the fact that it's evident just by, you know, looking at pictures really, we're walking around.

You can see that this community needs help.

>> Officials say they expect power to be restored to all homes in the area by tonight.

Now, if you've ever wanted to swim in the Chicago River, maybe this is your year.

Chicago's open water swim returns for a second year on September.

20th.

And it's all for a good cause.

Raising money for ALS research and supporting the Chicago Park district's efforts to expand free swim lessons and water safety education for kids across the city.

Participants will have to apply for one of 500 spots to take on either a one mile or 2 mile course along the river.

How fun after last year's swim proves successful.

Mayor Brandon Johnson says the city is planning a full week of events leading up to this one.

>> This moment symbolizes the incredible progress the Chicago has made in restoring the health of the Chicago River.

Just a generation ago.

This type of event was unimaginable.

>> Registration opens on March 31st and will close on April 27th.

Up next, what you need to know about the stock market.

That's right.

After this.

>> Chicago tonight is made possible in part why the Alexandra and John Nichols family.

The Pope Brothers Foundation.

And the support of these donors.

>> While little is a word many are using to describe the economy these days, war in the Middle East is disrupting oil prices and tariffs are still adding a layer of uncertainty to trade.

Meanwhile, stocks are down to start the year.

The S the S and P 500 is down 2 and a half percent.

The Dow is down nearly 3%.

And the Nasdaq is down nearly 4% since the beginning of 2026. joining us to discuss what all that means.

Our Daniel more a financial adviser at 7 Wealth management.

And to tell us Tasso Smiliar is a professor of economics at Loyola University of Chicago.

Can you pronounce your name?

I also got perfect that there's a lot to talk about than you know, I want to start with you for viewers who might not have paid attention to the stock market trends.

>> What has been happening in the stock markets is the beginning of the year.

What should they know?

Very fair question.

I think you summarized it well in the beginning by saying there's a lot going on.

So the markets have been an even the reason say their uneven is because the market is constantly assessing the price.

What disc how do I want to pay to Dayton for the market for future profits?

Right?

So there's a lot of uncertainty in regards this ongoing war in Ukraine.

We've got conflict in the Middle with Israel.

The U.S.

Iran.

There's a lot of uncertainty that changes by the day by the minute.

And all that's factored into the pricing of the market as well as we've got inflation, we've all kinds information coming out of political administration on a daily basis.

This is just never ending tariffs.

How you keep up?

>> It's doing is constantly price Enid and so the market is our friend in the sense that it pays us a premium for participating if this didn't exist, if it was just flat stable, we want to get a nice return.

We would get in the long run, a risk free rate of return, right?

That when it.

>> supporting our long-term wealth goals.

So and tells us I want to bring you when want to talk about Iran a little bit house warn Iran affecting global markets.

>> Well, there it is.

The markets to react.

2 events that have not been anticipated and obviously no one anticipated.

And what is currently happening.

Markets in general of all of because they constantly and continues try to reevaluate what does happen predictable.

A predictable.

But what is interesting to note with the kids, this is result of the Iran war.

The volatility has increased from what it's usually at around 20 point to approximately 30.

I do not want to know the viewers to poke through that.

This is a very bad event because a year ago when the Trump administration introduced parrot, the volatility then was significantly higher and it went all the way to 40 points.

So.

There is volatility, volatility because of the war.

live in an uncertain situation.

But if you look at the futures markets and you look at the price oil in September or October for 5 months from the price is expected to return back when it's the actually want to ask you about what's happening with oil prices because you turn on the and a lot going on on prices have been reasonably stable to approximate the 60 to $70.

And as a result of that, >> gasoline prices as well because they're highly are a Now that the Iranians are trying to to put up those other mines >> In this straight.

20% of the oil goes show the A's and worry about the supply of approximately 20% of the volume.

And as a result of that, the prices jumped from 60 to 90.

>> Does that affect the economy?

>> If the fix the economy probably at one thing for one percent year.

So it does, but not really significantly.

But the the markets, lot of excitement.

And I think right now we're trying to assess.

The door ability of the difficulties that would expand keeping a close eye and a nail.

>> People sometimes say the stock market is not the economy outside of the stock market.

What else is affecting how people feel about the economy now which say outside of house and make feel.

>> I'd say the economy and the market are not one and the same.

So the economy is looking at and this is So that's pretty where we're at today.

Where's the figures wears everything?

Stand today?

Again, the market is a practicing mechanism.

What those expectations for the future.

And when we do say that things you open with the markets off a couple percent for the year, right?

That sounds negative.

If you have a diversified portfolio and you all not only of stocks, you own bonds finds get returns in the way of price appreciation and income.

And we have some income this year to make those positive international markets have done very well.

And you have the benefit of currency appreciation, bringing those back to U.S.

dollars.

So you can still have a diversified portfolio and have a positive rate of return right now.

So the the whole point this is don't react with emotion.

Know that volatility, gses know that for the long term you're rewarded for that.

But discipline having a plan and falling at times like this.

When you're tested, you are rewarding and a long ride.

You understand people are nervous.

I can understand Ris please do not.

We acted based on that.

Seek out advice.

Follow your plan, connect with your financial advisor and test as you talk a little bit about stability.

How can federal policy stabilize or destabilize the economy?

>> Well, we are very, fortunate to have institutions that look at the economy and try to regulate it.

And one, of course, is the Federal and the Federal Reserve.

Blaze.

important role when the economy is weak to try to stimulate a little bit.

And when things are like inflation, to try to regulate it.

To the analogy.

I would like to mention between the economy and the stock market.

It's like the rabbit and the turtle that that's a good.

Okay.

That's is the economy that was only day today.

The stock market rice to see into the future.

And run very fast.

And many times gets too excited and then has to slow down and return back.

Overall.

The U.S.

economy today is doing very well.

Unemployment remains low.

Inflation is down to 2%, which is ideal.

But it's approximately 2.5 by some measures.

And the Federal Reserve remains independent and willing to do its job.

I really appreciate the way you break it down that we only have a couple seconds.

but what I want to ask is would advise.

>> Would you give to people who feel like they're struggling right now in this economy?

>> If you're struggling, anything you can do in terms of putting away and saving for your future times of volatility can create wealth.

If you're at the point where you're pulling income from your portfolio, stick to the plan.

Don't react to what's going on.

>> Well, thank you both for taking the time and trying to break this down for us.

There's a lot going on.

Thank Thank you, Janet.

Up next, looking at the Chicago Blues scene.

>> this >> weekend is Oscars and the film centers is up for best picture.

The film has a record 16 nomination and it starts Michael B Jordan and by bringing Blues music to the big screen.

promote the art form.

But while the Blues enjoys its moment in the mainstream media, our next guests have been dedicated to preserving its history and evolution for quite some time.

>> Their guardians of a sound that continues to shape American music and they Emmy Award-winning and 3 time Grammy-nominated blues, musician and local legend Billy Branch.

>> West Plains, artists like Buddy Guy and Muddy Waters and Diamond Dickson, executive director of the nonprofit organization, Chicago Blues Revival uses the Blues to support its local Chicago neighborhood that created the music and musician guitarist and producer Melody Angel and joining us via zoom from Jackson, Mississippi, Blues musician and guitars.

Her Allie Young, Davenport.

Thank you all for being here.

You want I have to say that I feel like when I listen to blues, it takes me.

Told his new dimensions and it makes me feel all sorts of things.

It brings you back all these kind of emotions.

the melody with just that's a good description of how does it make you feel when you're performing on stage?

Yeah, it's passion.

I always think of.

>> free news of very passionate when my emotions and it's about story telling as well.

And so you get to tell you a story and just I love that.

And exactly make you feel when I listen to I want to bring it back a little bit.

Diamond briefly, tell us about the Blues music's.

>> The building 16 and how it ended up in Chicago.

I know it's long history, right?

Why would you say is like the the short version?

So short version was kind of take it back to the great migration.

So, you know, thousands of African Americans move from.

>> The south where you'll like Delta, Mississippi area migrated here to the Midwest.

Chicago, just for better opportunity for that, you know, air of freedom that they weren't really getting in the south.

And with that, they're bringing that Delta Blues.

Traditional blue sound here.

Chicago's loud, it's busy, right?

And so this is where Blues got plugged in.

Got electrified just because it matches the energy of that.

How.

And so that is where and how Chicago blues derived and where it came from.

A love that in Billy, how would you describe that defines a musical style of Chicago Blues?

Well, Chicago, but like diamond said, reflects the the noise and hustle bustle of the city.

Chicago became the blues capital which in turn gave birth to the not only all of all the root of all of the America's music.

>> But also gave birth to the British Rock invasion.

And one of the things I've always found challenging is that Chicago is yet to fully embrace its legacy and cultural, especially with all the history that has here in Chicago.

You know, I know.

>> you buy her, Monica?

I see it right here.

Can you shows us some of the rhythms Chicago has and will OK the typical when you hear this?

You know, >> a that makes all of us want go to mall.

>> I love that.

That's great for 101, wrote, I want to bring you in.

How does it feel being a younger musician playing the blues and he'll stepping in the shoes of some of the greatest.

>> to me, I mean, it feels great.

It's an honor, you know, and at the same time.

I think you know it.

gives me a chance to, you know, teach people my age and even some people who are older than me, the history.

And you know what I've studied and what I've the knowledge I've gained from the elders and in this industry, you know.

>> What is it like for you when you're playing on stage?

>> I mean, it's it's my world.

You know, I'm a shy person.

But when I get on stage, all of that disappears, you know, I for me, it's a feeling, you know, it just comes out when I'm when I'm up there alter ego.

>> I love that.

>> Melodie muddy waters once said the blues other routes.

The you music's are the fruits.

How did Blues musically the foundation of all popular genre music?

So if you think of music in layers.

>> There's all of these different genres right?

But at the base of all American music, which is all of the genres of music that exist, the blues is underneath musically.

Like literally that will buy blues can be found in hip-hop in country will live that music everything.

So you can't have one.

Without the other hand, if you want.

>> More from I believe that you can have to start with the Blues traveler.

That's really description.

I want to talk a little bit about a scene centers.

Diamond.

>> There's a line from one of the character's name Delta Slim, which reads.

>> See white folks.

They like the Blues.

Just find they don't like the people who make it.

There's history of African-American blues musicians having their song stolen and popularized by white performers.

Can you tell us more about the struggle for African-Americans to own their music?

Well, absolutely.

And I think that that quote from the movie speaks to it directly where, you know, just because of prejudices and racism and things like that.

>> And not even have any exposure.

As you know, white counterparts black folks in history across the board have always had issues with owning music, not even just from an exposure standpoint, but just from, you know, the things that that they don't have, they don't have access to, you know, the managers and things like that.

The financial components that it takes to build your business that way.

And so that is why you see such ownership and such pride when it comes when people are speaking about blue, specifically because we know that at the root of it, that is when that type of behavior began.

But as culture carriers, we are trying to make sure that those things don't continue to happen for our counterpart.

So what are what are your thoughts, melody about that?

That line moving?

>> Yeah, I think that for me is kind of a call to action for us that are steel moving forward we need to move forward together.

We need to combine forces and make sure that.

Not only that we get treated fairly, but that are legends.

The ones that are here with U.S.

deal creating that they get their due as well.

And that's going to take all of us working together.

>> Billy, I mean, you have traveled the world performing blues.

What makes blue so universal for fans all over will for one thing is the only music you and say that you have.

You can see I got the J and Z that, you I feel And it's universal feeling.

You I haven't melody as well played in countries where they don't speak or understand English language.

But the feeling and the blues, you know, transcends that and they get I've done several tours in China people tears running down their faces.

Just listen to the music.

I mean, that just says that tones and rhythms what it does to someone so right big.

But, you know, the downside is that the blues is always relegated to the bottom rung of the ladder even in the Grammys.

The recent Grammys, he mentioned all the other.

John was a music, but they did not mention the word Blues won.

Not only is it like for you to know like a movie like centers, you know, specifically centered on blues.

That is very defected.

Buddy Guy makes a cameo and King Fish makes a cameo and the soundtrack is Blues base.

It makes maybe Hollywood and maybe the powers that be are taking a closer and a better look about time.

because the moon is always been, you suppressed you left because it's almost like yes would be.

Is that the run?

that is very interesting.

want to bring you.

What do you think about the current state of blues music?

>> what I think, you know, now that we've got, you know, we've got a lot of people, especially young people playing the blues, not 19 correct.

you've got a lot of people like Stephen Hall Melody Angel, of course, myself and so many others.

Young young guys women and young African-Americans, especially who are getting into the.

You know, where's you know, like 15 years ago, I can even say.

>> You're not only 19 I wouldn't scene.

And so it's it's really rising.

And then we've got other people from all over the world who are playing.

And I think the movie centers just is probably helping, you know, kind of pull the next generation of year.

>> I mean, really, what is it like for you to see such a young musician, 19 years old, listened remember when you were 19 idea All right.

I want schools since 1978.

>> And We my wife and I have the of privilege.

he stays with us when he comes to visit and he's I can't say enough about him.

But it's just it.

Does my heart good to see these young folks and they're coming in strong.

The coming in knowledgeable.

They're coming in skilled.

They know the history and they're learning patching it.

And so I'm happy I'm told I do realize board, you know, all along I've been waiting for you can't sure who that And now their comments, you pave the way will one of them Thank you.

And I'm in.

I want to ask the city of Chicago will be doing more.

>> You know, to honor the legacy of clues.

>> And investing in the communities where the where the blues started in lived.

You know, Chicago Blues festival is if it's not like the biggest, you know, festival and I think in United States may be like even the world when it comes to blues.

And so Chicago a lot of commerce based on that.

And so, you know, with this re, I guess emergence of the interest of blues.

I'm hoping that that taps Chicago on the shoulder to begin to show up and invest in these communities.

We need commerce on top of the culture as well.

>> would buy you've you're born in Chicago, correct?

How would you say how would I think Making show that music is in schools and that our history is preserved on music.

History as well black history for CPS.

That's a way more money needs to go into that because it's an empowering factor.

Like knowing.

discovered all of this on you, But what if I could also discover it in a classroom?

And what if they also handed me an instrument that I could play and get inspired from?

So I think that more needs to be done for I use We only have a couple seconds.

just one.

>> When you go to New Orleans or Memphis soon as you didn't play out the blaze in the airport, you see the memorabilia.

You see the images.

You hear the music by and Chicago is missing.

The boat Buddy Guy.

Just in an interview recently, he just presentation to the city Council.

Lee stated as should college yet to really embrace it.

So it hair.

thank you so much.

We're going to have to leave it at that.

Thank you so much of a soul in sight >> And we're back to wrap things up right after this.

>> Reflecting the people and perspectives that make up our communities.

This story is part of Chicago tonight.

Black voices.

>> And that's our show for this Thursday night.

Join us tomorrow night at 5.37, for the weekend review.

Now, if it's OK with Billy, he's going play us out.

His latest album is called The Blues is might biography now from All of us here, that is all meant to cause.

But tonight, I'm John Hernandez.

Thank you for watching.

Stay healthy and safe.

Good night.

Take it away.

Billy.

>> possible.

>> By include from should come personal injury and wrongful